Disaster planning — Take 10 steps to stay healthy during a pandemic illness.
Although there's no vaccine to prevent bird flu, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of becoming ill.
1. Stay healthy
It's impossible to know how a flu pandemic might take shape, but being in good health can help protect you. A healthy body means a strong immune system that fights off infection. Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting adequate sleep are all things you can do to maintain good health.
3. Wash your hands frequently
Use soap and water or, when traveling or when water is scarce, an alcohol-based (60 percent to 95 percent) hand sanitizer to help prevent the spread of infection. It's especially important to wash your hands after likely exposure, and before handling food or touching your nose, mouth or eyelids. When you wash, use warm water and soap and scrub for at least 15 seconds. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are actually better than soap and water at killing bacteria and viruses. Even with washing, avoid touching your mouth or eyes with your fingers.
5. Consider wearing a mask
A respiratory mask may prevent you from inhaling airborne particles from an infected person's coughs or sneezes. The snug-fitting N95 face mask is the gold standard for infection protection.
7. Keep your home and work areas clean
Use disinfecting wipes or cleanser to clean such common surfaces as door handles, phones, computer keyboards, countertops and tools.
9. Avoid contact with birds and bird-related material in areas where bird flu is occurring
Whether feeding ducks at a park or walking through an open-air market, touching or being close to birds or bird droppings can lead to bird flu transmission if birds in that area are infected.
Last Updated: 12/18/2006
